SEPTEMBER 2009 [»
LABEL
OF THE MONTH «] Pardon us while we
indulge in an immoderate belly laugh at the expense of The Moralizers. In this
instance,
the Alabama Alcoholic
Beverage Control Board who, in its unbridled wisdom, has chosen to ban Cycles Gladiator
wine from being sold statewide in restaurants and stores. The wine's label
depicts an 1895 French bicycle advertisement for Cycles
Gladiator bicycles. (Those off-the-trolley, 19th century wackos!).
As reported in the Wine Spectator, the Wall Street Journal and the Huffington Post, Alabama's ABC Board found the wine label's depiction of a nude woman violated the state's rules against displaying "a person in an immoral manner."
Since the inception of Cycles Gladiator Wine, the
wines have won numerous awards and the label was recognized with an American
Graphic Design Award. The winery has also supported cycling events such as
the Tour of California and the Tour de Georgia.
As book burners of yore belatedly learned, such bans tend to increase interest in the subject at hand, not to mention boost sales. Cycles Gladiator's sugar daddy - Hahn Family Wines, a perennial CAKE favorite - relates that visits to the company's web site have increased tenfold since news of the ban broke, with visitors from across the country inquiring where the wine can be purchased. The winery has decided to pull the brand from Alabama, rather than revise the label. “It’s not a pornographic label, we're not going to change it." The winery reports the 500 cases sold annually in Alabama will not be missed.
Our take on censorship remains rock steady: Offended by a television show? The last time we looked, all TV's sported "power-off" switches. Offended by a movie? Dude, don't go! Offended by a wine label? For crying out loud, don't buy the wine. It doesn't take society's intellectual elite to figure this stuff out.
Tranquilize, CAKE! Say your mantra. So, without peeking further at the label, let's taste this wine. Being huge pinot fans (even before "Sideways"), we'd intended to review the Cycles Gladiator pinot noir, but that bottle somehow, mysteriously, was consumed during a mid-week supper. (We remember it being good!). Which left us with the cabernet sauvignon to take stock of. At first blush, it's an easy-going, summer wine with a pretty garnet color. The flavor had a sense of chocolate about it, definitely soft, smooth and pleasant on the tongue. Tannins were present, but they were on the subdued side, being complementary, adding another layer of interest. We smelled and tasted berries, but we couldn't quite put our fingers on them. As opposed to the expected heavy berries flowing over the taste buds, they were lighter, almost strawberry-ish. As for pairings, we always break the rules and we drank this walk-on-the-light-side wine with a pair of butterfly-ed pork chops on the bone. And since the warm autumn is still young, that means sweet corn, heirloom tomatoes and homegrown basil were on the menu. It was a memorable evening.
$9.99 13.5%
CYCLES WINERY
SOLEDAD, CALIFORNIA
HAHN FAMILY
WINES
37700 FOOTHILL ROAD
831 678 2132
WWW.HAHNFAMILYWINES.COM
Available
at Barons Marketplace
Rancho California Road at Meadows Parkway
Temecula, California
CAKE | Wine Country Wedding Newsletter | Temecula Valley & Fallbrook, California
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Through CAKE's media partner - Neighbors Newspaper - banner ads are offered on CAKE, while display ads and directory listings are available in the Wine Country Weddings section of Neighbors Newspaper. Neighbors Newspaper has an annual circulation of 250,000, while CAKE is read by Brides, venues and vendors throughout Southern California.
Neighbors Newspaper
31566 Railroad Canyon Road #2-575
Canyon Lake, California 92587
951 244 7025
info@neighborsnewspaper.com
www.neighborsnewspaper.com
people will
stare
[» PHOTOGRAPH OF THE MONTH «]
warning: please view responsibly!
this isn't your mother's wedding photograph!
Photographers are invited to e-mail
out-of-the-ordinary
Wedding photographs for CAKE's Photograph Of The Month to:
CAKE
"people will stare" photograph courtesy of shadowcatcher imagery
[» HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE «]
get your
motor running,
head out
on the highway!
royal
elegance limousines
2010 festival of brides meeting at ponte
winery
olivia vinas karon cartwright mary anne bradley odalys monge
karla
rodriguez
Festival Of Brides is coming to Wine Country! Mark your calendars, Autumn 2010 at Ponte Winery. So what's the hot fuss? On account of there being 1). Bridal Shows. 2). Bridal Shows. And then there are 3). Bridal Shows. In the first category are the traditional Bridal Shows. In the second are the "everyone-&-their-brother's going into the Bridal Show business" shows.
In the final category are such singular events as Festival Of Brides. Yo, check it out: Festival presents their shows at the likes of Grand Del Mar, San Diego. Montage, Laguna Beach. Biltmore, Los Angeles. Ponte Winery, Temecula Valley. But wait, it gets better. Festival Of Brides advertises their shows in Grace Ormonde Wedding Style magazine! Not to mention - we're goin' giddy -on O-P-R-A-H!
Festival Of Brides' reins are held by Mary Anne Bradley, who's been prominent on the Southern California Wedding scene for nearly twenty years. Her credits include being owner / producer of Festival Of Brides, the Wedding Lady on NBC-4 TV and host of radio talk show “Getting Married In Southern California.” Ms. Bradley has planned and coordinated the Tournament Of Roses Wedding, the Wedding At The Wall in Berlin, as well as celebrity Weddings. Further, she's been a contributing writer to Elegant Bride Magazine and the Los Angeles Times Special Wedding Section.
Stay tuned for the specific date and make it a point to treat yourself to being spellbound by the Festival Of Brides show at Ponte Winery. Autumn 2010.
Festival Of Brides
4335 Marina City Drive Suite 340
Marina Del Rey, California 90292
310 577 7788
festivalofbrides@aol.com
www.festivalofbrides.com
[» IN FURTHER WINE COUNTRY NEWS «]
HOW GREEN IS OUR VALLEY
Don Reha, winemaker for Thornton
Winery and Orfila Vineyards supplies the following narrative:
"I use electric forklifts at both wineries. I'm also working with a
company to take my pomace (the grape seeds, skins and stems left behind
after the juice is drained from the crush) from this harvest season to use
in the production of animal feed."
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TEMECULA WEDDING VIDEO TOURS In a perfect world, the pages of CAKE would report exclusively objective journalism. Get outta town! Our house, our rules. To wit, three CAKE-pals have launched a new Wedding venture in Wine Country and we can't help but wish them all the luck in the world. |
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The title-holders of the new venture - Temecula Wedding Video Tours - include Diana Ross & Layné Powell of Celebrations By Diana, and Jimbo Marshall of Premiere Video. They've toiled over the past year interviewing Wedding vendors and Wedding coordinators at Temecula Valley wineries, in addition to flying over Wine Country - courtesy of pilot and photographer, Ken Seals - shooting videos and photographs of the vineyards.
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The population of The SoCal clocks in at around 20,000,000, with a good portion of them being wine lovers. Of those wine lovers, many are engaged romantics with visions of being married at a winery. And, typically, Napa Valley comes first to mind. Yet by any level-headed calculation, transporting family & friends into the distant north involves expenses and logistics equivalent to a military operation. For these soon-to-be-weds, the luxury of having a close-at-hand Wine Country in Southern California's Temecula Valley is the luck of the draw. |
To showcase what Temecula Valley has to offer wine loving love birds, Diana, Layné & Jimbo have produced a video they bill as the "Complete Video Resource Guide To Planning Your Temecula Wine Country Wedding." It includes video and photographs of Temecula Valley wineries and interviews with the Wedding professionals who work at them. Going for a mere $19.95, the video includes coupon savings of $5,000 worth of free wine tastings, free lunches, free gourmet foods and discounted services from Wine Country Wedding professionals.
TEMECULA WEDDING VIDEO TOURS
info@temeculaweddingvideotours.com
www.temeculaweddingvideotours.com
ponte winery
photo by ken seals
www.kenseals.com
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BELLE MARIÉE BRIDAL -
RIVERSIDE September 23, 2009 Temecula Valley Wine Country's in its infancy and it couldn't be more fascinating to observe the players in the Valley's wine making, cuisine and Wedding industry as they grow and evolve.
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Just this month we write about two Wedding coordinators and a videographer banding together to make a video to promote Wine Country. And another videographer involved in a webisode promoting videographers. And a Chef introducing Venetian hors d'oeuvres to wine tasters. And a Wedding photographer teaching other shooters how to improve their skills, plus earn a dollar in the bargain. In all cases, these Wine Country achievers are moving beyond the confines of the ingrained mindset. They egg themselves on with a double-edged motivation: a want to push their own boundaries, while knowing their achievements will further publicize Wine Country and benefit their colleagues.
Case in point: Karolin Di Cristina and Michelle Brewer of Belle Mariée Bridal. For several years, their Murrieta shop has provided Brides, Grooms, bridesmaids and flower girls with designer lines to choose from for the Wedding Day. Karolin & Michelle have now branched out northward with Belle Mariée Riverside, located in the Fabulous Events center. Fabulous Events houses a wealth of talent, including Riverside Video, Soundskilz Entertainment and Cean One Photography, among others. And now Belle Mariée Bridal.
The CAKE-Take on Karolin & Michelle is that - as well as being talented and gracious - they're delightful hostesses and all should take them up on their Grand Opening invitation.
BELLE MARIÉE BRIDAL -
RIVERSIDE
9901 Indiana Avenue Suite 114
Riverside, California 92503
951 977 9994
info@bellemarieebridal.com
www.bellemarieebridal.com
IFWTWA
(No, we're not
texting!)
In August, we had the pleasure of attending the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association luncheon hosted by Thornton Winery. On the hosting side of the equation was Thornton's gracious President, Steve Thornton, the Winery's merry Wine Country ambassador and winemaker, Don Reha and culinary wizard, Executive Chef, Steve Pickell.
From the side of those of us in attendance, we were honored to hang with Linda Kissam - of Kissam Consulting - who served as Mistress of Ceremonies. In addition, it was a pleasure to meet IFWTWA President, Maralyn Hill, and Executive Director, Patricia Anis.
Also attending were Barbara Hansen, Joe Hilbers, Alexa Hokanson, Maralyn's husband, Norm Hill, Kathy Zelasko, and Tom & Laura Plant of the Wineormous wine blog.
Chef Pickell's menu was delightful, pairing a Roasted Tomato & Artichoke Prosciutto Tartine with Mr. Reha's 2006 Sangiovese & 2006 Sauvignon Blanc. Dessert followed the entree in the form of a Ginger & Peach Tartlet, accompanied by Thornton's 2008 Moscato. (Although the networking was invaluable, at this point we were wishing everyone would observe silence so we could meditate on Chef's Tartlet!).
Following informative and engaging presentations by Steve Thornton, Don Reha and Steve Pickell, the group regrouped at Temecula Creek Inn for a tour of the property. Stay tuned for more to come on that adventure.
don reha | steve, sally &
john thornton | 1 dalmation)
| steve pickell
THORNTON WINERY
32575 Rancho California Road
Temecula, California 92589
951 699 0099
info@thorntonwine.com
www.thorntonwine.com
thornton winery
photo by ken seals
www.kenseals.com
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WILSON CREEK WINERY A man after our own hearts, our main man over at Wilson Creek Winery - Executive Chef, Clay Blake - shares one of our pet traits: "How can I shake things up?" Chef Clay related he was recently wishing to add some additional trappings to Creekside Grill when the concept of a Cicchetti Bar sprang to mind. |
| The tradition of cicchetti (chi-KET-tee) - appetizers
- pays tribute to the Italian city of Venice. At the end of each
workday, Venetian pubs line their counters with tasty morsels
skewered on toothpicks, ready to be washed down with a glass of
wine. Similar to Spanish tapas, a meal can be made of cicchetti by
ordering varied plates of fish, tiny sandwiches and small servings
of full-course plates.
WILSON CREEK WINERY |
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WIENS FAMILY CELLARS
WIENS FAMILY CELLARS
35055 Via Del Ponte
Temecula, California 92592
951 694 9892
info@wienscellars.com
www.wienscellars.com
MOUNT PALOMAR WINERY
Our connection with Mount Palomar Winery is unique among our Wine Country's links on a couple of levels. For one, every Christmas we're under orders from family and friends to descend on the Winery to stock up on stocking stuffers of MP's Sherry. (Doesn't it take something away from the surprise of a gift if the receiver places an order for the gift?). Oh well, we do the Secret Santa number and always buy extra bottles of the sherry for ourselves. If you haven't yet tried this sit-by-the-fire-with-the-girl-or-guy-of-your-dreams wine, you should make it your appointed duty. Mount Palomar describes their sherry as tasting of roasted hazelnut, almond and caramel. This is palate-tickling vino. Gift yourself!
Secondly, even if Mount Palomar ran out of
wine on a Sunday, we'd still show up - STG! - if for no other reason than
to hear Brian Stodart & Mike Gross play some of the best music in Wine
Country. We don't know what it is this duo's doing differently, but if you
want to listen to great music while enjoying great wine, drop by on
Sundays.
MOUNT PALOMAR WINERY
33820 Rancho California Rd
Temecula, California 92591
951 676 5047
info@mountpalomar.com
www.mountpolmar.com
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VIP EVENTS FUNDRAISER As we reported last month, CAKE-pals - John & Wendy Rodriquez of VIP Events - suffered through a fire that destroyed their offices in Canyon Lake. The Wine Country Wedding world is a closely-knit community and offerings of help for these friends have been pouring in. For one, Diane & Gino Simones of Neighbors Newspaper have offered John & Wendy gratis advertising in the Wine Country Weddings section of their newspaper. For another, Loretta Falkner of Falkner Winery has stepped forward to host a fundraiser to help VIP Events replace computers and other office equipment lost in the fire. |
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The fundraiser in question will take place at Falkner Winery on September 10, 2009 and all are invited to what's shaping up as a be-there-or-be-square party! What better way to spend an autumn evening in Wine Country than sampling wine and hors d'oeuvres while helping-out two of the nicest people devoting their lives to the local Wedding industry?!
VIP EVENTS FUNDRAISER
FALKNER WINERY
September 10, 2009
Thursday 7-Midnight
Call Falkner Winery for ticket purchases
Falkner Winery
40620 Calle Contento
Temecula, California 92591
909 676 8231
www.falknerwinery.com
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SUNDAY FARMERS MARKET On September 6, 2009 - Sunday at 11:00 - the Fallbrook Town Center Certified Farmers Market kicks off its inaugural season on Main Street at Fallbrook's Village Square and across the street in the Caffé Primo parking lot. Several dozen vendors will be offering vegetables, fruits, eggs, flowers, baked goods and local meats. Executive Director of the Fallbrook Area Visitors Bureau, Linda Kissam, stated, "I can't wait to see the downtown area full of people walking around on a Sunday enjoying all that a great Farmers Market has to offer." |
Farmers Market Manager, Jeannie Hathaway concludes, "It's all coming together in a grand way." Community leaders, Don McDougal and Vince Ross will conduct a Grand Opening ceremony on September 6th. Entertainment will follow throughout the day.
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WINE & A BITE A further note on the art community of Fallbrook, the final 2009 Wine & A Bite Art Walk wraps on September 19th, Saturday from 5 - 7, in the Historic District of downtown Main Street. The evening includes stops at A Few Of Our Favorite Things, Wee Little Sprouts, the Gem & Mineral Society and will conclude at the Village Square. Hors d'oeuvres at the venues will be provided by Hukilau, Pala Mesa Resort, Pala Casino, La Caseta and Trupianos. Regional wines will be poured along the way. |
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Fallbrook Area Visitors Bureau
111 West Alvarado
Fallbrook, California 92028
877 451 3282
favbdirector@findfallbrook.com
www.findfallbrook.com
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The DP School Of Photography announces its next workshop to be held on November 7, 2009, Saturday from 9:00-3:00, at Wilson Creek Winery. Expanding on previous workshops, the coming seminar will include a new track on the business of photography, imparting income-earning opportunities. |
Dan Pettus, owner of DP School Of Photography states, "I will personally show you how to make $500-$1,000 a month with stock photography. Stock agencies cost nothing, but you need to understand their requirements and rules."
Dan Pettus is arguably a first-among-equals in Wine Country photography and with an offer like this, "Who you gonna call?!" At a mere $99 bucks, the workshop will pay for itself. Oh yeah, did we mention that - in the bargain - Creekside Grille's Chef Clay Blake will throw in a lunch? As noted on the School's website, the lunch by itself is worth the price of admission.
DP SCHOOL OF PHOTOGRAPHY
31805 Temecula Parkway Suite 667
Temecula, California 92592
951 693 0500
www.dpschoolofphotography.com
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FILMFELLAS CAST FOUR In this fascinating webisode, CAKE-pal - John Goolsby, of Riverside Video - joins Steve Weiss, Joe Simon and Kristen in a My Dinner With Andre-ish give-and-take about the behind the scenes nuts and bolts of Wedding videos. This is fascinating stuff! We have to give it up for the videographers. We've watched dozens of them in action at Weddings and - to a man & woman - they're inevitably friendly, laid back and seemingly unhurried. But as this series reveals, the pressure on their side of the lens is relentless and doesn't let up until the final product is delivered to the Bride. |
Of course, then the Fantasy Island scenario sets in with, "Smiles, everyone, smiles!," as hats are raised to the next Bride & Groom arriving for their Special Day.
RIVERSIDE VIDEO
9901 Indiana Avenue Suite 116
Riverside, California 92503
951 688 4336
info@riversidevideo.com
www.riversidevideo.com
TEMECULA VALLEY WEDDING PROFESSIONALS
WINE COUNTRY VENUE TOUR
AUGUST 4, 2009
"Riding along in our automobile . . . with no particular place to go." [with thanks to Chuck Berry]. August 4th was just such a day. The TVWP held their first Wine Country Venue Tour and (just between we & thee) we gave the go-by to the tour bus and decided to, well, ride along in our automobile.
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We began at South Coast Winery, where we were greeted by belly dancers galore. The presentation was organized by Fran Caddy, of I Am Yours bridal consulting. We chatted briefly with South Coast's Wedding coordinator - Jennifer Fitsemons - then were especially delighted to run into a long-time friend from our Dana Point Resort days, SCW's Director of Banquets - Rogelio Morales. We had the usual amusing chat with John Goolsby - of Riverside Video - and then spent some hang-time with photographer Dan Pettus, who was gracious enough to supply images for this piece. |
| We then moved on to Falkner Winery, just in time to hear Loretta Falkner describing the Winery's offerings. When Loretta finished, Annette Nielsen, of the TVWP and organizer of the Falkner event, said a few words. We then dished with Jenelle Jackson of Sweet Flowers, Cary Pennington of Cary Pennington Photography, KC of Falkner Winery, Mike Shroyer of Good Time Entertainment and new CAKE-pals, Joel Udayke & Dawn Dougherty of Flowerloft. |
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Back in our automobile, we drove off to peer behind Door #3 - Wilson Creek Winery. [At this point, the day was calling to mind Bridal Shows we've all attended where the vendors outnumber the Brides. We heard several observers suggest that future Tours have the participants tour together to achieve a higher-energy, critical mass]. Having said that, if there's one golden rule in Wine Country, it's that when you step onto the grounds of Wilson Creek Winery - and there's a minimum of 2 people and a bottle of wine present - it's party time! At Wilson Creek there was a higher degree of exhilaration in the air that put new life into the day. |
| We chatted with WCW's Mindy Smith & Su-Lin Sutherland. We also reconnected with Jennifer Malloy, of Amoré Events, who organized the event. We ran into two of our favorite photographers - Justin & Julie Hulse of Hulse Photography. And then paid our respects to the Pala Casino gang - Lorraine Kellam, Carol Hooker and Chef Albert Cruz. In addition, we were happy to see Inland Empire confrères, Mary Jo Gallegos, Michelle Johnson and Holly Chavez. We also ran into Jeannie, manager of WCW's Creekside Grille, as several of us snuck into the Barrel Room to indulge in the air conditioning. |
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Venturing out of the WCW Barrel Room we chanced upon CAKE-pal, Randy Green of RK Green Studios. We've been an RKG fan for 7 years now and, as usual, he was enjoying himself more than's justified, so we tagged along to watch him work. In the process, Randy generously granted a photography lesson as he set up a shot for us with his models. |
| We then returned to the Ballroom to check-in with videographer, Michael Scalise, of Black Tie Productions and DJ Victor Cannon, of Can-Do Productions. These gentlemen are two of the major players on the Wine Country Wedding scene and their company and observations are always instructive. |
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wine flowed freely the day of the tour
karon cartwright randy green
photo by cake
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The end finally came into view as we crossed the finish line at Lake Oak Meadows. None of the touring guests had yet arrived, so a cadre of dessert makers supremo were scurrying around putting final touches on displays of colorful confections to end the day. |
[» in memoriam «]
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TED KENNEDY "For all those whose cares
have been our concern, At the risk of pulling a Gemini and running into ourselves coming around the corner, our thoughts on the passing of Ted Kennedy mime what we recently wrote on these pages when Michael Jackson died: ". . . those who followed his career seem to agree on two points: 1). In his younger days, he lived a rakish life. 2). It'll be a long-time-coming before another statesman appears who can similarly accomplish so much in such an all-embracing fashion." |
Which begs the question: of those we've elected to serve us in DC, what's happened to those who believe in outreach, who extend their hands, the compromisers? Ted Kennedy, John McCain, Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan? Those gentlemen used to look across the aisle and challenge, "My way's right!" To be answered by, "No, my way's right!" And then in harmony, "Now that we've got that out of our system, how can we move forward together to do right by our fellow countrymen?" (Like, the folks who elected them and are paying their salaries).
For too long now, the American political system has been car-jacked by a bunch of anonymous, ill-mannered, wind-bag weenies who - rather than taking into view the big picture - seem to revel in playing the role of Dr. No. It's not good enough anymore to simply state, "My way's right." It now has to be snarked with, "Your way's wrong." The concept of a loyal opposition keeps us all honest, but come on! It's as if the Washington mandarins fear that reaching out to each other will give them cooties.
We're all Americans, we're all in this together, we wish all the better for the generations to come. We'll miss Ted Kennedy. Even those who think they won't miss him, will miss Ted Kennedy.
Edward Moore Kennedy was 77.
[» AND FINALLY «]
THE AXEMAN COMETH
We thoroughly enjoy following Off Beat Bride - www.offbeatbride.com - written by Seattle author, Ariel Meadow Stallings. The site never fails to amuse and educate, not to mention we're captivated by OBB's illustrations courtesy of New York artist, Donna Wilson, of www.butterflieskiss.com.
On a recent post, one of Off Beat's, well . . . offbeat Brides, reported making the entrance to her Wedding to FunTwo's rendition of Pachelbel's Canon In D. Being way-big fans of Monsieur Pachelbel, we gravitated to YouTube to tap into FunTwo and were blown away!
From what we've been able to learn, FunTwo is actually a South Korean, 20-something college student who annihilates on guitar! For those of us still struggling to work out "Kumbaya" on an ancient Gibson, our faith is restored in the generations to come when we see how some of their creative sorts are spending their time. We grew up with the Beach Boys', "In My Room," and we bow before what's going on "in their rooms" these days as kids get creative with their video cameras.
And guess what, girls? He's available!
VENUES & VENDORS:
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news you'd like to share,
please contact:
CAKE
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CAKE is the Wedding newsletter
of the
Temecula Valley wine country /
Fallbrook area
2 Inform. 2 Entertain.
|[caution: please read responsibly. CAKE is not your mother's wedding newsletter!]|
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